Anger over Orlando traffic delays

2010-05-24 14:20

Lunga Biyela, News24

Cape Town - A Johannesburg woman says she will be selling her World Cup tickets after spending a "frustrating and disappointing" two-and-a-half hours in traffic to get to Orlando Stadium to watch the first ever Super14 rugby match in Soweto.

Karen Kruger said she was excited to watch the Bulls take on the Crusaders from New Zealand, and had managed to convince die-hard Sharks fans to attend.

"The vibe and atmosphere was great, that's why we desperately wanted to be part of it," Kruger told News24.

However, she, her cousin, her cousin's husband and her 10-year-old niece went home without watching the game due to traffic congestion.

Bus blocked lanes

"Cars were driving in the emergency lane, the cordoned construction lane was taken over," she said. "There was drinking and driving, and not a cop in sight."

To add to the chaos, she said, "blue-light outriders" arrived and blocked off four lanes of traffic and let a bus full of Bulls supporters cut across.

"The bus went up on the embankment and blocked the emergency and inner lane, so all the cars in the third and construction lane cut across us, allowing hundreds of cars to go ahead of us," she said.

Kruger said she faced further problems trying to find parking at Nasrec.

"Getting to the parking lot was another mission. I had pre-purchased parking tickets and the four bus tickets as per instructions. None of those were required so I wasted that money completely."

They finally gave up after unsuccessfully "jostling" their way forward to get a bus to take them from Nasrec to Orlando Stadium.

"I was livid, as were the rest of the group. We took a decision at that stage to just go home. We missed the entire game, and this fiasco cost me R1 130," Kruger said.

"The logistics and the total lack of ownership by the city and police were appalling. I have no cooking clue as to alternative routes to take to Nasrec. I’ve never been there in my life, which is why we left hours early to arrive in due time to take the bus and get to the game. I followed the rules, I broke no laws and I got completely screwed," she said.

Park and Ride

She objected that there were only two Park and Ride facilities - one in Centurion and one off the only exit to the stadium.

"What genius came up with that? Why didn’t they have several options so that the only vehicles getting off the highway would be buses or mini-buses?"

"Cape Town had 10 Park and Ride facilities available and they didn't have rugby, soccer, a concert and the president to deal with," she said.

She said she felt they were "completely abandoned by the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department".

"I am now going to sell my Soccer World Cup tickets and watch the games on TV. I won't ever go through this again - my blood pressure can't take it, and neither can my bank account," added Kruger.

She also said she would not be going to Saturday's final.

"They're doing the same thing so I won't think anything will change, even if there won't be a soccer game at the same time," she said.

Parking requests disregarded

Johannesburg Metro spokesperson Wayne Minnaar told News24 that people were allowed to take their cars and park them at Nasrec as the games being played were local games, but a large percentage drove to the stadiums.

"We knew that there would be a lot of cars, we urged supporters to take the N1 and park at Nasrec, but many disregarded this"

Minnaar said that they will not be allowing people to take their cars beyond Nasrec for Monday's friendly international soccer match between South Africa and Bulgaria, and Saturday's Super14 final between the Bulls and the Stormers.

"For the World Cup, no one will be allowed to drive to Nasrec. We will have Park and Ride facilities that will be available," said Minnaar.

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